Career and Education Opportunities for Crossing Guards in Naperville, Illinois

There are many career and education opportunities for crossing guards in the Naperville, Illinois area. There are currently 4,010 jobs for crossing guards in Illinois and this is projected to grow 1% to about 4,040 jobs by 2016. This is not quite as good as the national trend for crossing guards, which sees this job pool growing by about 9.4% over the next eight years. In general, crossing guards guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, or construction sites.

A person working as a crossing guard can expect to earn about $12 hourly or $26,290 per year on average in Illinois and about $10 per hour or $22,790 annually on average in the U.S. as a whole. Crossing guards earn less than people working in the category of Traffic and Parking generally in Illinois and less than people in the Traffic and Parking category nationally. People working as crossing guards can fill a number of jobs, such as: flagman, subway guard, and school guard.

The Naperville area is home to 166 schools of higher education, including one within twenty-five miles of Naperville where you can get a degree as a crossing guard. The most common level of education for crossing guards is a high school diploma or GED. It will take only a short time to learn to be a crossing guard if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Crossing Guard

Crossing Guard video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, crossing guards guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, or construction sites.

Crossing guards direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic as needed. They also communicate traffic and crossing rules and other data to students and adults. Equally important, crossing guards have to report unsafe behavior of children to school officials. They are often called upon to guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites. Finally, crossing guards track traffic flow to identify safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets.

Every day, crossing guards are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. It is also important that they evaluate problems as they arise.

It is important for crossing guards to record license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and report infractions to appropriate authorities. They are often called upon to direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals. They also inform drivers of detour routes through construction sites. They are sometimes expected to learn the location and purpose of street traffic signs within assigned patrol areas. Somewhat less frequently, crossing guards are also expected to report unsafe behavior of children to school officials.

and distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points. And finally, they sometimes have to communicate traffic and crossing rules and other data to students and adults.

Like many other jobs, crossing guards must be reliable and have a strong concern for others.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Naperville include:

Customs Inspector. Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.

Sheriff. Enforce law and order in rural or unincorporated districts or serve legal processes of courts. May patrol courthouse, guard court or grand jury, or escort defendants.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Crossing Guard Training

Lewis University - Romeoville, IL

Lewis University, One University Parkway, Romeoville, IL 60446-2200. Lewis University is a medium sized university located in Romeoville, Illinois. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 5,536 students and an admission rate of 71%. Lewis University has a bachelor's degree program in Security and Protective Services, Other Specialties.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Naperville, Illinois

Naperville, Illinois photo by JohnDBuell

Naperville is located in Dupage County, Illinois. It has a population of over 143,117, which has grown by 11.5% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Naperville, 107, is above the national average. New single-family homes in Naperville are valued at $401,600 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, one hundred fifty-four new homes were built in Naperville, down from two hundred eighty-one the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Naperville are educational services, health care, and professional, scientific, and technical services. For men, it is professional, scientific, and technical services, finance and insurance, and construction. The average travel time to work is about 33 minutes. More than 60.6% of Naperville residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 23.7%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Naperville is 8.1%, which is less than Illinois's average of 10.5%.

The percentage of Naperville residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 58.9%, is more than both the national and state average. Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Saint Thomas The Apostle Church and Bethany Church are some of the churches located in Naperville. The most common religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Naperville is home to the High Grove Business Park and the Spring Brook Golf Course as well as Du Page River Park and Winding Creek Park. Shopping malls in the area include Pebblewood Plaza Shopping Center, Cress Creek Square Shopping Center and Cress Creek Shopping Center. Visitors to Naperville can choose from Fairfield Inn by Marriott, EXEL Inns of Chicago and Country Inn Suites Naperville for temporary stays in the area.